BUTTS ARE DRAGGING

Many supermarkets are getting burned these days when it comes to selling cigarettes.Sales nationally are declining this year at a faster rate than before, and while the incidence of declines varies from region to region, some chains are seeing double-digit drops in their cigarette revenue.The smoldering fallout of months of resurgent anti-smoking activity, from both the public and private sector,

Many supermarkets are getting burned these days when it comes to selling cigarettes.

Sales nationally are declining this year at a faster rate than before, and while the incidence of declines varies from region to region, some chains are seeing double-digit drops in their cigarette revenue.

The smoldering fallout of months of resurgent anti-smoking activity, from both the public and private sector, is partly to blame for the drag on supermarket volume.